Top Notch Bar and Restaurant Changes Their Smoking Policy

A well-known bar and restaurant in Brookston changed its indoor smoking policy after allowing people to smoke indoors for 60 years.

Posted: Oct 4, 2019 8:49 PM

Posted By: Meredith Hackler

BROOKSTON, Ind. (WLFI)- Top Notch Bar and Restaurant in Brookston recently underwent some changes. Along with the bar's atmosphere changing, so did its smoking policy.

"When we started to remodel it just made sense,” says Top Notch Bar and Restaurant co-owner Maliha Mishalsyed. “We wanted to cater to the townspeople and even outsiders that travel. It didn’t make sense that they were ordering a nice cut of steak next to someone who was lighting up.”

Top Notch has been a part of the Brookston community for 60 years. So, when the owners were making changes, they wanted to make sure the customers were happy. Many of their regular customers were asking for the establishment to become non-smoking.

"I think it will be a good thing for business,” added Mishalsyed. “I think businesses that typically do more alcohol sales rather than food might struggle a little bit. But, I think there are always ways around that if you create a nice patio for them to smoke or just kind of playoff their needs I think that you can get around that.”

Regular customers think the change will be good for business as well.

"I would say 30 or 40 people already have commented that they like the change to nonsmoking,” said Cory Tonnsen a regular at the establishment. “I think it will increase the number of people that come here."

"I am very excited it's nonsmoking,” said Kathy Brewer-Staddon a teacher in the area. “The teachers come up here a couple of times a month to eat and when we go back it's nice not to smell like smoke.”

Other business owners in the area say it will make the Bar and Restaurant even more fun and friendly.

"I think it's a good thing,” said Becky Lehe the Owner, B Boutique the business next door. “Top Notch has a huge reputation for just being a fun friendly small-town kind of bar and restaurant and I think it will be great and I think it will bring in tons of business.”Top Notch banned smoking from inside the establishment on October 1st.

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